The vendeuse at Jean-Paul Hevin said these potatoes are available year round but they look like winter to me. Maybe an Irish Winter?If you're coming to Paris get ready to eat chocolate, cream, baba au rhum, nuts, and caramel.Au revoir les Fraises et Framboises

Thursday, September 26, 2013

All August and September I've been sitting like a hen on a golden yellow egg waiting impatiently for it to hatch. I've been dying share with you Trish Deseine's THE PARIS GOURMET just out on Tuesday. True, I missed the pub date because I couldn't figure out how to present this absolutely essential foodie guide to Paris. I couldn't figure out what to draw either obviously...

These 208 pages are so filled with useful information I've decided to give you bite-size posts on various and sundry. One post will not to do it. Just this little paragraph on Belleville, where I'm living at the moment has opened so many doors for me.

Imagine your best friend has a best friend in Paris.

Imagine that best friend is happy to share with you all of her secret sources and tips after living in Paris more than 25 years (Trish is Irish) and in the most fun and direct way as if you were sharing a coffee in a café and chatting away like bosom buddies.

Trish Deseine has many terrific cook books out there on chocolate and caramel and entertaining and she's had cooking shows on French television. She's an absolute pro in the foodie French world.

Trish lived for a while in Belleville and the village atmosphere comes across. Nobody was shaking a finger at me for shooting in their windows here at Fromager Beaufils mentioned in her book.

Trish's book made me more adventurous and confident to go into new places and get acquainted. Much thanks to Trish I ventured into Epicerie Provencal and became fast friends with Geraldine who is happy to guide me in the mysterious ways of olive oil and jambon.

I know after I visit a patisserie like the excellent Ble Sucre (mentioned in Trish's book)

That I can run to Geraldine and share whatever I bring like Ble Sucre's delicious Pomme tarte tatin. You need a friend like that in Paris if you're going to survive and not balloon out and take off.

Plus Geraldine is letting me give her daughter watercolor lessons...sort of a test run. M. is a fearless and bold blobber. None of this would not have transpired if I hadn't read The Paris Gourmet.

This book has become my go-to Paris bible. If I'm heading off someplace foodie I check the book first.

I walked right by Poissonerie Lorenzo in the past at marche President Wilson.

And missed out on their glorious displays like this perfect checkerboard of salmon. Their Breton lobsters are jumping all over the place.

Along with all restaurant and food shops and markets, there are pages and pages of how-to secrets only a savvy Parisian knows. How-to shop at a marche, how-to be a good dinner guest, restaurant rules, the art of food shopping, on and on, good stuff you need to know.

Trish even tells you the proper way to drag your shopping trolley (always behind you. Never on the side or in front). Who knew?

Because of The Paris Gourmet I've become much better acquainted with Marche d'Aligre.

I often head over after a visit to marche Pres.Wilson. The atmosphere is completely different, more down to earth. Venders shout all kinds of enticements,

"One Euros, One Euros"

"Vous desire chere Madame?"

Plus they insist you taste their produce. Prices are lower too. I love the warmth and friendliness of d'Aligre.

There's a section of entertaining recipes as well for home cooks. Even for armchair travelers reading The Paris Gourmet is a terrific way to immerse yourself in all the food treasures Paris has to offer. I'll be back with more soon I promise. It's a must-have in my opinion.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Loads of producteurs/farmers etc. from the Ile de France department onboard to share their bounty.

It was a perfect day for picnicking, bright and sunny.

Delicious gloopy home-made jams.

Made by the ice cream lady.

I ate the very fraise/strawberry. It could not have been more berry.

Why do I want everything I see at these special marches especially if it has cherries in it.

Nutty breads for your cherry jam.

Or you could go the ham route.

I got a big bottle of apple-pear juice for 3 euros.

Fruit juices come bubbly or flat.

The mushroom lady, Marianne, a champignonnier

I got a 1/2 kilos of champignon de Paris.

It's Fall so there must be a French squirrel.

Why didn't I get fresh cresson instead of the cherry tomatoes. Did you know you can go picking fruit and veg on local farms around Paris? I sat down for a munch and noticed a free-range mushroom lurking but decided to let it be. Don't miss the pop-up gastronomic markets in Paris. Loads of tastes and loads of fun.